Can Hurricanes Cause Women to Go Into Labor?

Being in the path of a natural disaster like a tropical storm or hurricane like Harvey or Irma is frightening and anxiety-inducing enough. When you’re a mom-to-be, the amount of stress you’re facing is on a whole different level. As tropical storm season has kicked into high-gear, headlines have been peppered with viral stories of women who’ve gone into labor during evacuation or while a hurricane was actually ravaging their local area. In turn, many are asking whether storms like these or other major natural disasters actually cause women to go into labor. Or is it all just a strange coincidence?

"In our research, we studied the effects of prenatal exposure to severe storms and hurricanes in Texas over 1996-2008 on birth outcomes," Maya Rossin-Slater, one of the study's authors and assistant professor in the department of Health Research and Policy at Stanford University School of Medicine, explained to What to Expect in an email.

The study looked at whether or not moms-to-be were living in the path of a major hurricane or storm and then compared siblings who were born to the same mom at different times. Some of the babies had been in utero during the hurricane, while others were not. In addition, they compared the children to children of mothers who lived further away from the hurricane path.

Although Rossin-Slater and her team did not find "any robust evidence that hurricanes caused pre-term births, or that they increased the rates of induction of labor or C-section delivery," they did find a connection between women being pregnant during a hurricane and having complications during labor and delivery, such as moderate or heavy meconium staining (when a baby passes meconium before birth in the amniotic fluid). That said, it's important to note that this doesn't mean that if you get caught in a hurricane while pregnant that you're guaranteed to experience complications during delivery.

However, the complications "were not caused by the women being exposed to the hurricane in the last month of pregnancy," Rossin-Slater shared. "Rather, they were driven by exposure earlier in the pregnancy."

Rossin-Slater says that it's possible stress played a role, especially because she and her team were able to rule out alternative causes of the complications, such as changes in access to medical care or changes in maternal behavior (for example, smoking). Ultimately, though, her research doesn't support the theory that hurricanes can cause women to go into labor.

So, what about all that buzz that it’s actually the actual meteorological science of a storm — like low barometric pressure — that causes women to go into labor during a big storm? Findings are mixed. A 2005 paper in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology found no solid connection between low barometric pressure and birth rates, but research published in the Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics in 2007 concluded that deliveries increase on days with a marked change in barometric pressure. For that reason, the scientific consensus seems to be that the link between hurricanes and women going into labor is related more to maternal stress than anything else.

With that in mind, experts encourage women to take certain actions when they’re contending with severe weather during pregnancy.

"When you’re stressed, you may forget to do things like eat or drink water. Dehydration can lead to serious pregnancy complications, so make sure you’ve got plenty of water handy," Teresa Criswell, director of women's services at Women's Memorial Hermann Memorial City, in Houston, says.

Criswell, who worked through Hurricane Katrina in 2005, suggests that moms-to-be avoid "information overload," meaning that if you find yourself glued to the weather channel and you can feel yourself becoming stressed, it may be a good idea to turn the TV off or put your phone down for a bit and do something else, such as yoga, stretching, or practicing some deep-breathing exercises.

"This bag should have identification items, like your photo ID, insurance information and birth plan if you have one, as well as comfort items for the hospital, like non-skid socks, toiletries, a robe and comfortable going-home clothes," Criswell notes. "Make sure your cell phone remains charged and you keep a charger in that bag, as well."

Another tip to keep in mind: If you live in an area that often evacuates (whether voluntarily or because it's mandatory) during hurricane season, and you hit the 36-week mark, Criswell recommends talking to your doctor about how to ensure that your prenatal records could be transferred to another facility in the event that you evacuate and have to give birth somewhere else. "You may need to sign release forms with your physician or the facility where you plan to deliver," she says. "If a very strong storm appears to be coming your way, you may want to consider getting a physical copy of those records to take with you."

By taking these disaster plan precautions, you’ll not only be more prepared but, ideally, less stressed when the time comes for labor and delivery.

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Maressa Brown is an editor and writer with more than a decade of experience covering lifestyle, pop culture, and parenting. Her work has appeared in/on a variety of publications including Cosmopolitan.com, Parents.com, Romper, Redbookmag.com, ELLE.com, GoodHousekeeping.com, Bustle, Variety, Women's Health, and Better Homes & Gardens. She loves researching and covering women’s health, beauty/style, relationships, pop culture, and astrology. Follow her on Twitter @MaressaSylvie.